Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 6600’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Helleborus  plant named ‘COSEH 6600’, characterized by its upright to slightly outwardly spreading and mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; greyed purple to greyed red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Helleborus x ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘COSEH 6600’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6400’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application Ser. No. 16/873,645

Title: Helleborus Plant Named ‘COSEH 6500’

Inventor/Applicant: Josef Heuger

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application Ser. No. 16/873,638

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT:

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Inventor/Applicant, Mr. Josef Heuger of Glandorf, Germany, on Jun. 6, 2019, application number 2019/1389. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor or Applicant. Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Helleborus plant, botanically known as Helleborus x ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘COSEH 6600’.

The new Helleborus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany. The objective of the breeding program was to create new uniform Helleborus plants with unique and attractive plant habit, leaf and flower coloration and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.

The new Helleborus plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Glandorf, Germany in November, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Helleborus x ballardiae identified as code number P839, not patented, as the female, or seed patent and an unnamed selection of Helleborus x hybridus, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent. The new Helleborus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Glandorf, Germany in January, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Helleborus plant by in vitro axillary meristem culture in a controlled environment in Glandorf, Germany since March, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Helleborus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Helleborus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘COSEH 6600’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘COSEH 6600’ as a new and distinct Helleborus plant:

-   -   1. Upright to slightly outwardly spreading and mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Greyed purple to greyed red-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are more vigorous than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus flower later than plants of the         female parent selection.

Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are greyed purple to         greyed red in color whereas flowers of plants of the male parent         selection are reddish in color.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6400’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6400’ in plant and growth habit as plants of the new Helleborus are shorter than and not as vigorous as plants of ‘COSEH 6400’. In addition, flowers of plants of the new Helleborus plant are greyed purple to greyed red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘COSEH 6400’ are light yellow green in color with greyed purple-colored margins.

Plants of the new Helleborus can be compared to plants of Helleborus x ballardiae X Helleborus x hybridus ‘COSEH 6500’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. Plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘COSEH 6500’ in flower color as flowers of plants of the new Helleborus are greyed purple to greyed red in color whereas flowers of plants of ‘COSEH 6500’ are light yellow green in color with greyed purple to greyed red-colored margins. In addition, plants of the new Helleborus are shorter than and not as broad as plants of ‘COSEH 6500’.

Plants of the new Helleborus can also be compared to plants of Helleborus x hybridus ‘Penny's Pink’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Helleborus differ primarily from plants of ‘Penny's Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Helleborus have dark green-colored leaves         without distinct venation whereas plants of ‘Penny's Pink’ have         green-colored leaves with distinct venation.     -   2. Plants of the new Helleborus differ from plants of ‘Penny's         Pink’ in flower color as plants of the new Helleborus have         darker greyed purple-colored flowers than plants of ‘Penny's         Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Helleborus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Helleborus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘COSEH 6600’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘COSEH 6600’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during March in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Glandorf, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Helleborus production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from 5° C. to 12° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Helleborus x ballardiae X Helleborus x     hybridus ‘COSEH 6600’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Helleborus             x ballardiae disclosed as code number P839, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Helleborus x             hybridus, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro axillary meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 55 days at             temperatures about 12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 170 days             at temperatures ranging from 4° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Thick to thin, fleshy; typically white to             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low branching; sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright to             slightly outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit with             flowers held within and above the foliar plane; plant shape,             roughly flattened globular; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 44.9 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 66.5 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves arranged in a basal rosette; leaves             palmately compound with typically five leaflets per leaf.         -   Leaf length.—About 18.1 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 19.7 cm.         -   Leaflet length.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Leaflet width.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Leaf shape.—Palmate; reniform in outline.         -   Leaflet shape.—Elliptic, ovate or obovate.         -   Leaflet apex.—Acute.         -   Leaflet base.—Attenuate.         -   Leaflet margin.—Serrate; coarsely undulate.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery; matte to slightly glossy.         -   Leaflet venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Leaflet color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to             137A; midvein tinged at the base with close to 178A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 148A to 148B;             midvein, close to 183A. Fully developed leaflets, upper             surface: Darker than between NN137A and 139A; venation,             close to 144C. Fully developed leaflets, lower surface:             Close to between N138C and 147B; venation, close to 183A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 14.9 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to             8 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A moderately covered with             fine dots, close to 197B and proximally, closer to N186C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower shape and habit.—Rotate flowers; flowers moderately             cupped; arranged in panicles; freely flowering habit with             about seven flowers per inflorescence and about 77 flowers             developing per plant; flowers face mostly outwardly to             slightly nodding.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about ten             months after planting; plants flower naturally from winter             into the late winter in Germany.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; sepals             persistent, other flower parts are not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate to broadly oblong. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 145C;             venation, close to 182A.         -   Inflorescence height (including peduncle).—About 47.6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 22.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.8 cm by 5.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.2 cm.         -   Petals.—All petals are transformed into nectaries.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five, arranged in a             single whorl. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm.             Shape: Broadly ovate, slightly concave. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Truncate to broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire; slightly             undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 145A; heavily flushed with 186A and 186B;             venation, similar to lamina. When opening, lower surface:             Close to 145C heavily flushed with close to 183B and 183C;             towards the margins and apex, close to 186A; venation, close             to 185B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 186A and             186B; center of sepal tinged with lighter than 182D;             venation, similar to lamina; with development, color             becoming closer to between N186C and 200B and center,             moderately tinged with close to N200A to N200B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 186A; center of sepal tinged             with close to 146D; venation, similar to lamina; with             development, color becoming closer to N186C and venation,             close to 187A.         -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Typically one or two.             Length: About 5.3 cm. Width: About 3.4 cm. Shape: Ovate.             Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Sparsely and finely             serrate; slightly undulate. Color, upper surface: Close to             NN137A; venation, similar to lamina. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147B; venation, close to 200A to 200B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 38.9 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.             Aspect: About 20° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture             and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 150D, heavily covered with fine dots, close to             187B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Aspect: About 10° to 32.5° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             moderately glossy. Color: Close to 145C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 80.             Filament length: About 1.3 cm. Filament color: Close to             NN155C. Anther shape: Double and broadly reniform;             basifixed. Anther size: About 2 mm by 2.25 mm. Anther color:             Close to between 150C and 150D. Pollen amount: Sparse to             moderate. Pollen color: Close to 4D to lighter than 4D.             Pistils: Quantity per flower: About five to eight. Pistil             length: About 1.1 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.3 mm. Stigma             shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 157D. Style             length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 186A. Ovary color:             Close to 150D. Nectaries (transformed petals): Quantity per             flower: About 13. Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About             4 mm. Shape: Tubular, flattened. Texture and luster, inner             and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy.             Color, immature, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 145C;             towards the base, close to 145B. Color, mature, inner             surface: Close to 145B; towards the apex, close to 145C;             towards the base, close to N144B; venation, similar to             lamina; with development, becoming closer to 152C and             towards the apex, close to 153D. Color, mature, outer             surface: Close to 145B; towards the apex, close to 145C;             towards the base, close to N144B; basal spot, close to 152C;             venation, similar to lamina; with development, becoming             closer to 152C, towards the apex, close to 153D and basal             spot, close to 152A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Helleborus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Helleborus have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind, high     temperatures about 35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Helleborus     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Helleborus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Helleborus plant named ‘COSEH 6600’ as illustrated and described. 